Best of My Love (Fool's Gold, #20)(51)

Amber walked into her office and took a seat. Her business partner wore a loose yellow shirt over jeans. Her hair was pulled back, her makeup light. She was barely showing, but she radiated a contentment Shelby hadn’t seen before.

“You’re glowing.”

Amber laughed. “Thank you. I feel good. Healthy. The morning sickness is gone, thank goodness. That was awful. How are you doing?”

“I’m great. Business is fantastic, as you know. My teens are doing wonderful work with the cookies. I want to start putting a schedule together for the summer tourist season. We have the food cart for the festivals and some of the other projects we’ve been talking about.” She held up her hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it all.”

She expected her business partner to tease her about her plans, but instead she seemed to crumple a little.

“I’ve made a decision,” Amber said as she squared her shoulders. “I know it’s the right thing to do, but it’s going to mean a lot of changes.”

Shelby didn’t like the sound of that. “What kind of changes?”

“This pregnancy is so unexpected. So life-altering. I want to experience it fully. I want to be there for my baby.” Amber drew in a breath. “Shelby, I’m going to sell the bakery and I’d like you to consider buying it from me.”

*

AIDAN HAD PROMISED that riding a BMX bike up the side of a mountain would clear her head. Shelby was less sure. Mostly because she wasn’t able to think at all. Or breathe. But maybe that was the point. Maybe all the panting and gasping and dealing with the shooting pains in her leg were meant to distract her from the indecision she’d been wrestling with for the past couple of days. And if they were, they were working.

It was a beautiful day. Sunny and cool. Signs of spring were everywhere. Buds and new leaves covered the trees. Wildflowers carpeted the ground. She could hear birds calling to each other, and a light breeze whispered through the branches.

All of which would have been much easier to observe if she weren’t so worried about falling off her bike.

“Stay in the middle of the trail,” Aidan called from behind her.

She didn’t know which was more annoying—the instruction or the way he was barely breathing hard.

She was in shape, she told herself. She worked out. Although apparently not enough, she thought as she bounced over a rut in the path. She rounded a corner, then came to a stop when she saw the trail went up the mountain. Pretty much in a straight, vertical line.

Aidan pulled up next to her. “I promise, the view is worth it.”

“Couldn’t we just buy a postcard?”

He laughed.

The sound made her smile. Being here like this, even on a bike, was good.

“My butt’s going to hurt later, isn’t it?” she asked.

“No pain, no gain.”

“That’s total crap, invented by a masochist. You can’t convince me otherwise.”

He pointed to the top of the trail. “Can you make it?”

“Let’s find out.”

She began to peddle. Her thighs screamed in protest and her lungs soon followed. She kept her head down, focusing only on the next couple of feet. Up and up. Eventually she would get there.

“Come on, Shelby,” Aidan called. “Just a few more feet.”

She made it over the crest of the trail and found herself staring down at the town in the valley below. A view that would be a lot prettier if she stayed conscious.

She lowered the bike to the ground, then pulled off her helmet and braced her hands on her trembling thighs as she gulped in air.

Aidan passed her a bottle of water. “Drink slow. A sip only.”

A sip? Her throat was dry, her body hot and her heart racing. None of it in a good way. She took the bottle and straightened, then parted her lips and let mouthfuls of the cold water pour down her throat.

“Shelby, stop—”

That was all he got to say before she felt the first spasm. She dropped the bottle and clutched her stomach. Seconds later, all the water came up as she vomited.

The retching continued for several minutes. When she was done, she collapsed to her knees and braced herself with her hands on the dirt.

“I hate biking,” she managed between gagging and coughing.

“It doesn’t seem to be your sport,” he agreed. “Can you sit?”

She rolled onto her butt and rested her head on her knees. She was hot and sweaty and humiliated. What was she supposed to say after something like that?

He kneeled next to her and used a damp cloth to wipe her face, then handed her the bottle of water.

“Sip,” he said firmly. “Wait twenty seconds, then sip again.”

“I’m sorry.”

His mouth turned up. “Don’t be. It happens a lot. Nobody listens and then they pay the price.”

“I’ll never doubt you again.”

He laughed. “If only that were true.”

She got down a few sips and began to feel better. The mountain air cooled her and her heart rate returned to normal. Even the view was more appealing than it had been.

And while she would love to sit and admire it, there were decisions to be made and things to talk about.

“Thanks for offering to help with Starr’s party.”